Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005?

What is the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005? The Government is committed to regulating only where necessary and in a way that is more suited to the needs of modern business. That is why the Order was made, under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. It replaces most fire safety legislation with one simple order. It means that any person who has some level of control in premises must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and make sure people can safely escape if there is a fire. You may need expert help. www.midland-risk.com can provide this assistance. FIRE SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT (Department for Communities and Local Government Publications) YOU MUST Appoint one or more competent persons, depending on the size and use of your premises, to carry out any of the preventive and protective measures required by the Order (you can nominate yourself for this purpose). A competent person is someone with enough training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to be able to implement these measures properly Provide your employees with clear and relevant information on the risks to them identified by the fire risk assessment, about the measures you have taken to prevent fires, and how these measures will protect them if a fire breaks out You must consult your employees (or their elected representatives) about nominating people to carry out particular roles in connection with fire safety and about proposals for improving the fire precautions Before you employ a child, provide a parent with clear and relevant information on the risks to that child identified by the risk assessment, the measures you have put in place to prevent/protect them from fire and inform any other responsible person of any risks to that child arising from their undertaking Inform non-employees, such as temporary or contract workers, of the relevant risks to them, and provide them with information about who are the nominated competent persons, and about the fire safety procedures for the premises Co-operate and co-ordinate with other responsible persons who also have premises in the building, inform them of any significant risks you find and how you will seek to reduce/control those risks which might affect the safety of their employees Provide the employer of any person from an outside organisation who is working in your premises (e.g. an agency providing temporary staff with clear and relevant information on the risks to those employees and the preventive and protective measures taken. You must also provide those employees with appropriate instructions and relevant information about the risks to them If you are not the employer but have any control of premises which contain more than one workplace, you are also responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Order are complied with in those parts over which you have control Consider the presence of any dangerous substances and the risk this presents to relevant persons from fire. Establish a suitable means of contacting the emergency services and provide them with any relevant information about dangerous substances Provide appropriate information, instruction and training to your employees, during their normal working hours, about fire precautions in your workplace, when they start working for you, and from time to time throughout the period they work for you Ensure that the premises and any equipment provided in connection with fire fighting, fire detection and warning, or emergency routes and exits are covered by a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained by a competent person in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair Employees must co-operate with you to ensure the workplace is safe from fire and its effects, and must not do anything that will place themselves or other people at risk. www.midland-risk.com